Housing supplementary costs in Germany have risen significantly, outpacing overall inflation. According to figures released Tuesday by the Federal Statistical Office, these costs – encompassing services like water supply and waste disposal, building cleaning, elevator maintenance and related expenses – were 4.0 percent higher in August 2025 compared to the same month in the previous year. This contrasts with a general consumer price increase of 2.2 percent over that same period.
Conversely, household energy prices have seen a decrease. The cost of energy carriers such as electricity, gas, heating oil, district heating and solid fuels like wood and coal were 2.3 percent lower in August 2025 compared to August 2024. Despite this recent decline, energy prices experienced substantial increases, particularly in 2022 during the energy crisis and remain at a comparatively high level.
Approximately 4.2 million individuals, representing 5.0 percent of the population, reported being in arrears on bills from utility providers like electricity or gas suppliers in 2024. This figure is similar to the 5.4 percent recorded in 2023.
Renters are disproportionately affected by this trend. While 3.4 percent of individuals from owner-occupied housing reported payment difficulties with utility providers, the figure rose to 6.4 percent for renter households.
The financial strain extends beyond regular utility bills. Many households also struggle to cover unexpected expenses, such as the repair or replacement of broken appliances. In 2024, nearly one-third (32.2 percent) of the population lived in households unable to cover such unexpected expenditures from their own funds. This represents a slight decrease from 2023, when 35.0 percent of individuals reported a lack of adequate financial reserves for unexpected outlays. For the preceding two years, an unexpected expense was defined as an amount of at least €1,250.